January is a time where many people abstain from indulgent things, from alcohol to chocolate. Meat and dairy, increasingly linked to climate change and animal suffering, are other products those taking part in 'Veganuary' also abstain from at this time of year. In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of plant-based options, from vegan steak to alt chicken and meal ingredients.
January is a time where many people abstain from indulgent things, from alcohol to chocolate. Meat and dairy, increasingly linked to climate change and animal suffering, are other products those taking part in 'Veganuary' also abstain from at this time of year. In this week's NPD Trend Tracker, we have a range of plant-based options, from vegan steak to alt chicken and meal ingredients
Image Source: We Are/Getty Images
Plant-based meat producer THIS has teamed up with UK-based brewery Brewdog to develop ‘THIS isn’t chicken wings’. They are, according to THIS, Europe’s first skin-on vegan chicken wings. The wings will be available at all Brewdog bars, hotels and restaurants for 25p per wing across the whole of January.
The wings, which are made of soy and pea protein, are coated with a seaweed-based crispy skin, and have olive oil dispersed throughout to improve texture. Unlike other vegan chicken analogues, these wings replicate the darker cuts of the bird, which texture-wise are very different. The wings are served with buffalo, Korean BBQ or dragon spice sauce.
“Ironically, the launch of this product has been the opposite of winging it, with over a year of R&D. They are probably the meatiest product we’ve ever launched and genuinely very unique - even Red Bull can’t give you these,” said THIS co-founder Andy Shovel.
Image source: THIS
Sold in UK supermarket retailers Sainsbury’s and Morrison’s from the beginning of January, UK-based plant-based meat brand VFC (Vegan Fried Chick*n) has launched a range of vegan chick*n ready meals. Alongside this, new chick*n sausages and new chick*n mince are out in Asda this week.
The ready meals, which are sold single-serve, can be fried in the pan from frozen in eight minutes. The pea-protein based ready meals are modelled on popular takeaways, and include chick*n fried rice and chick*n curry.
The chick*n sausages, meanwhile, are made with pea protein, while the chick*n mince is made with soy. Both, according to VFC, are first to market.
"Delivering on taste, health and convenience is fundamental to converting more people into meat-free alternatives. Our new VFC One Bag range, chilled Chick*n Sausages and Mince bring all these benefits to the table, appealing to a broader target consumer base across new meal occasions,” said Alison Reilly, Head of Marketing for VFC.
Image source: VFC
Slovenia-based Juicy Marbles, known for producing whole cuts of vegan steak praised for ‘muscle-like’ texture, is planning to expand to 350 outlets of UK supermarket retailer Tesco after seeing success in Waitrose and Whole Foods. This comes after Tesco experienced increasing demand for plant-based meat options.
Juicy Marbles products, rather than being made through 3D-printing or cell cultivation, are made with, according to them, a ‘purely physical’ process, attaining a Nutri-score of A. Juicy Marbles whole cuts have also proven to be highly versatile, with consumers using them in meals ranging from roasts and wellingtons to broths.
“It warms my Slovenian heart seeing Old Britannia take to our steaks with such fervour. Indeed, our mascot (and company monarch) Mr. Marbles would be proud. We’re thrilled to partner with Tesco, who by releasing our product so widely, has furthered our secret plot to bring more love and tenderness to every home, through tender morsels of plant-flesh. The only downside is they made us remove all the swear words from our packaging, but we can live with that,” said Luka Sinček, co-founder of Juicy Marbles.
“Juicy Marbles offers market-leading quality in the whole cuts space, closely replicating the taste and texture of beef steaks, so we are really excited about adding this really credible new addition to our plant-based range,” added Cate May, buyer at Tesco.
Juicy Marbles steaks will be available from Tesco at an RRP of £9 for a pack of two, or £6.75 introductory offer for Tesco Clubcard holders.
Image source: Juicy Marbles
UK tempeh brand Better Nature is releasing a smoky tempeh this January, as it also begins selling in UK supermarket retailer Asda. Tempeh is a protein-filled Indonesian plant-based food created from naturally fermented whole soybeans.
Made using tempeh mixed with smoked salt, Better Nature’s smoky tempeh is easy to pan-fry or bake, and is highly versatile, being well-suited for use in a wide range of meals.
“This is a really exciting time for tempeh, which is leading the charge for the new generation of meat-free wholefoods,” said Better Nature Tempeh co-founder and CEO Christopher Kong.
“Over the past year, we’ve taken tempeh from niche to mainstream in the UK, with our range now stocked at over 800 Asda and Tesco stores around the country.
“Our new Smoky Tempeh is a great addition to the range, catering to growing demand for flavoursome, plant-based wholefoods that are super versatile and easy to cook with.
“Unlike processed meat alternatives, tempeh is a naturally nutritious food that has been a staple in Indonesian cooking for more than 300 years, and its potential to help people live more healthful and sustainable lives is really exciting.”
Image source: Better Nature Tempeh
UK-based Squeaky Bean is releasing its first range of frozen ingredients. The range includes seasoned chicken style pieces (seasoned with salt and pepper) and steak style strips, which are released today.
The ingredients, which are made with pea and wheat protein, can be cooked from frozen in three minutes. They are intended to be added to meals, such as stir fries, tacos (steak style strips) curries, salads and pastas (seasoned chicken style pieces).
“As the number one brand in ready to eat meat free pieces, we’re well versed in creating plant-based options that deliver a hit of flavour and unbeatable texture. We’re always looking at how we can help consumers to make easy plant-based swaps into their diet without changing their habits, which is where our new range of frozen ingredients come in,” said Becky Youseman, marketing controller at Squeaky Bean.
“We regularly hear from our Squeaky fans about how they want to cook with our products, and our latest range offers an easy and convenient way to create plant-based dishes with no compromise on taste and texture. This is just the start of a very exciting year for Squeaky Bean as we continue in our goal to shake up the plant-based category, with a pipeline of impressive innovation set to launch in 2024.”
The 240g packs can be bought from Waitrose at an RRP of £3.25.
Image source: Squeaky Bean
UK food wholesalers Brakes has launched US company Sysco’s Simply Plant Based range for January. The range, which includes products such as Sysco Simply Chestnut & Seed Roast and Sysco Simply Sweet Potato & Red Onion Marmalade Seeded Tart, is intended to celebrate the Veganuary campaign, which, according to Veganuary, one in ten Brits take part in.
The range will, over the course of the next 18 months, grow to around 50 products, including vegan sausage rolls, deserts and cakes, and a range of other products. Along with releasing Sysco’s range, Brakes has also created a Veganuary section on its website, suggesting reasons to get involved and providing tools to do so.
“Veganuary is a great time to showcase plant-based menus and appeal to a wide audience of not only non-meat eaters, but also those looking for a healthy start to the year. Our new Sysco Simply Plant plant-based products can elevate menus, provide choices, and meet the demand for diverse and sustainable food options,” said Mandy Van Hagen, Marketing Food Manager at Brakes.
Image Source: Sysco
